Page 69 of Broken Heat

“Well, we are celebrating,” I said.

“Yes, we are.”

Elon and I clinked glasses.

“Hey, daddy! Me, too!” Quynn held his cup up and we clinked our glasses to his sculpted plastic anomaly.

“Daddy, did you really used to live here?” Quynn asked, trying so hard to sound out his R’s.

“Yes, I did, sweetie.”

Elon put his hand on our son’s head. “This is where your father and I met.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“It’s vewy vewy pwetty.”

We all laughed. I saw some old friends look over our way and wave.

Elon clasped my hand in his, looking up at me. “Does it feel good to be back?”

I nodded, my throat tightening.

“I’m so glad we came,” Elon said.

“Me, too, my love. Me, too.” I raised our clasped hands to my mouth and kissed his wrist.

With Quynn between us, all three of us walked toward the group of people I’d once known and worked with.

It felt good. Like we’d come full circle. Except our circle had widened and it was no longer broken.

I’d never known such happiness could be mine.

THE END